Maternity Protection, Parental Leave, Doctoral Studies with Child

In case of pregnancy during your doctoral procedure, you may use the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG).

Please find further information here.

If you wish to take advantage of Maternity Protection, please contact the coordinator of the Graduate Center Dr. Alette Winter, graduate-center@bcp.fu-berlin.de

In case your pregnancy has been notified, you are only entitled to be examined within the maternity protection time (6 weeks before the birth date and 8 weeks afterward or 12 weeks in case of premature or multiple birth) if you subsequently submit a declaration of renunciation of the maternity protection time.

Further information and offers can be found on the following websites:

Dual Career & Family Service

Arbeitsmedizin – Mutterschutz

Baby-care rooms at FU Berlin

Parent-child rooms at FU Berlin

Financial support for household help and additional childcare is provided, for example, by the following foundation:

Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard-Foundation

For pregnant women in emergency situations the Federal Foundation Mother and Child offers financial support.

Overview Doctorate Procedure

1. Supervision, Topic and Funding

What are the requirements for admission? What has to be done before starting the doctorate? What funding opportunities are there?

2. Start of Work

What insurance cover is required at the start of work?

3. Admission

When and where should I submit my application for doctorate admission? What documents are required for admission?

Mitgliedschaftsverhältnis FU / Enrollment

4. FU Membership and Enrollment

Is there a need to become a member of the FU Berlin? Is enrollment including the student ID card and the semester ticket necessary?

Regelbearbeitungszeit / Standard Time to Completion

5. Standard Processing Time

What is the standard processing time for the doctorate? What should I do if the standard processing time can not be met? How can a change of supervisor take place?

Schreiben der Dissertation / Writing the Thesis

6. Writing the Thesis

Is a monograph necessary or may a cumulative work also be submitted? What must be considered? What should be on the title page?

7. Submission of the Thesis

How many copies have to be submitted? What should be taken into account when submitting a cumulative thesis? Which forms are necessary for submitting the thesis?

8. Review and Display Period

Who appoints the doctoral committee? How is the review procedure organized? How long is the display period?

9. Defense of the Thesis

Who organizes the disputation? When should the disputation be announced? How many members of the doctoral committee must be present? How long does the disputation take?

10. Publication of the Thesis

When does the publication take place? Which kinds of publication are possible? Is the publication required for the award of the certificate?

11. Awarding of the Doctoral Degree

When can the title be used? When and where do I get the certificate?

12. Offer: Joining the Alumni Network of ERG

How can I register for the alumni network of the Ernst-Reuter-Gesellschaft? What are the advantages?

Image Credits

Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy

Graduate Center / Doctorate